Can a historic Black town be revitalized?
Leaders from a newly formed revitalization task force joined California State Parks representatives last week in announcing a partnership to honor a piece of California Black history in the Central Valley. Randall Cooper, chief executive officer of the Global Economic Impact Group, which will lead revitalization effort, said the once-prosperous community of Allensworth was devastated by a series of racist decisions and policies and never was able to recover. … Water access was another hindrance to the town’s potential. … [W]hite farmers dammed the river and diverted the water, leaving Allensworth’s Black farmers high and dry.